A Swachh Bharat torch-bearers’ conclave of district Collectors began here on Friday with a view to learning from one another’s experiences and realising the goal of Swachh Bharat by October 2, 2019.
To achieve the goal by the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a total of 14 million toilets had to be constructed, besides finding a solution to solid waste management, V. Radha, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, said at the inaugural. Each State should find ways of overcoming the hurdles in achieving the target.
Collectors from 14 States and CEOs of Swachh Bharat Mission are participating in the two-day conclave on SBM (rural).
K.S. Jawahar Reddy, Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, said creating awareness among local leaders and members of self-help groups would make reaching the goal easy.
Compared to the past, political leaders were lending their support strengthening the efforts of the Central and State governments, he said.
ODF drive
Swachh Andhra Pradesh Mission Director Muralidhar said three districts had already been declared open defecation-free in Andhra Pradesh. In the next five months, 20 lakh toilets would be constructed all over the State to make it ODF by 2018.
District Collector Pravin Kumar detailed the plans being carried out to overcome the obstacles. Because of illiteracy and lack of awareness in the Agency area of the district, an additional ₹5,000 had to be spent on each unit.
Swachh Andhra Mission vice-president C.L. Venkatrao, Swachh Bharat Mission directors Sonali Ghosh and Yugal Kishore Joshi, District Collectors Dhanunjay Reddy and P.S. Pradyumna (from Andhra Pradesh) and representatives from Telangana, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, Puduchhery, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan were among those who participated in the conclave.
